Very briefly, are there any
java classes which can calculate dates prior to 1 January 1970 and also 1752?
The latter year was that in which the Julian calendar changed over to the Gregorian one (in most of Europe) - the length of the year was more closely defined to be 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds. Before it was given as 365 days and 6 hours.
Under the new definition the 'leap day' was lost on the centennial year (double leap year) unless that year was completely devisable by 400. If so then it kept its leap year status. This all meant that in October of 1752, 13 days were lost to account for the 13 double leap years that had elapsed since Christian calendars were first drawn up. This caused traders to riot in the streets of European cities, as they thought that they were losing precious days of work...!
[ June 30, 2008: Message edited by: Stuart Lord ]